Idris Elba – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

ZOOTOPIA 2 – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

December 5, 2025 Valerie Kalfrin animation, David Strathairn, disney, Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba, Jared Bush, jason bateman, Zootopia 2

Almost ten years after the original Zootopia tackled prejudice and racial profiling in an animated Disney package, Zootopia 2 loses none of its guts or its bite. Again tackling heady themes within a shady land-grab conspiracy right at home in Chinatown, Zootopia 2 still brings all the fun, fur, and feels. As with the 2016 film, the marvel of Zootopia 2 is how it holds together so well, serving up lessons about tolerance and inclusivity without being clumsy or heavy-handed.

Reviews

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

October 28, 2025October 28, 2025 Valerie Kalfrin A House of Dynamite, Greta Lee, Idris Elba, jared harris, kathryn bigelow, netflix, Noah Oppenheim, political thriller, rebecca ferguson, tracy letts, Volker Bertelmann

The lunacy out of Washington, DC, on any given day can overshadow the men and women who watch the skies in remote bases and secure spaces, monitoring our nation’s defenses around the clock. A House of Dynamite is a potent reminder. Now streaming on Netflix, this political thriller races through what happens after a missile arcs toward the United States, leaving just precious minutes to determine how to respond. It’s an intense and draining watch—and a larger existential story about the senselessness of it all.

Reviews

HEADS OF STATE – Review by Susan Granger

July 9, 2025July 13, 2025 Susan Granger Heads of State, Idris Elba, Ilya Naishuller, jack quaid, John Cena, Prime Video, Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Without a big budget or bankable stars, Heads of State manages to be a remarkably entertaining action/buddy comedy. It’s predictably directed by Ilya Naishuller who relies on the energetic ability of John Cena and Idris Elbeto glibly bicker-and-banter their way through one dire, diverting dilemma after another.

Reviews

HIJACK – Review by Diane Carson

August 12, 2023August 12, 2023 Diane Carson Apple TV+, Hijack, Idris Elba, Jim Field Smith, Kingdom Flight KA29, Mo Ali, series

Hijack feeds that adrenaline rush of events unfolding in real time, this one over seven hours. There’s no ticking clock, but time is of the essence after Kingdom Flight KA29 leaves Dubai for London. Within minutes, several hijackers—men and one woman—take control of the plane. it doesn’t take long to establish that on the aircraft and on the ground in London, these terrorists will murder without hesitation. The stakes are astronomical, literally life and death for two hundred plus passengers. Idris Elba elevates the intensity as he charismatically commands the camera.

Reviews

EXTRACTION 2 – Review by Susan Granger

June 19, 2023June 20, 2023 Susan Granger Anthony Russo, Chris Hemsworth, Extraction 2, Golshifteh Farahani, Idris Elba, Joe Russo, netflix, Olga Kurylenko, Sam Hargrave

If you’re into brainless, mucho macho mayhem, Extraction 2 is 85% action, 15% narrative – meaning there’s lots of fighting, particularly hand-to-hand combat, even though it’s never clear how these ‘ordinary’ Eastern European men can take that much physical punishment and maintain their ruthless bravado. Australian black ops mercenary Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is still recovering from his previous mission. Reuniting with director/stuntman Sam Hargrave, he embarks on this sequel, tracing its origins to Ande Parks’ graphic novel “Ciudad” from a story by Parks, Joe & Anthony Russo.

Reviews

EXTRACTION 2 – Review by Nadine Whitney

June 14, 2023June 14, 2023 Nadine Whitney Anthony Russo, Chris Hemsworth, Extraction 2, Golshifteh Farahani, Idris Elba, Joe Russo, netflix, Olga Kurylenko, Sam Hargrave

Director Sam Hargrave ups the ante in his sequel in every possible manner. The close and hand to hand combat is superbly choreographed and the big action beats are meatier than the first. Extraction had a famous long take one-shot and Hargrave goes one better by having at least two (if not more) with one involving a spectacular car chase. The bombast of the action scenes is admirable, and Nik finally gets her time to shine as an action heroine in her own right.

Reviews

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING – Review by Martha K Baker

September 1, 2022September 1, 2022 Martha K. Baker (Archived Contributor) Augusta Gore, george miller, Idris Elba, John Seale, Three Thousand Years of Longing, tilda swinton

It is a maxim of good writing to show rather tell. That rule applies especially to telling stories. But what about a movie based on the art of story-telling? A movie is all about showing — after all, it’s called “show” business. Breaking this rule causes Three Thousand Years of Longing to be sadly mediocre.

Reviews

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING – Review by Susan Granger

August 31, 2022September 1, 2022 Susan Granger Augusta Gore, george miller, Idris Elba, Three Thousand Years of Longing, tilda swinton

George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing delves into the thought-provoking power of fantasy and storytelling. Adapted from The Djinn and the Nightingale’s Eye, it’s scripted as a cautionary tale by director George Miller and his daughter, Augusta Gore, with exquisite vignettes, exploring themes of fate, loneliness and the universal desire for connection. With superb comedic timing, Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba play off each other perfectly.

Reviews

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING – Review by T.J. Callahan

August 26, 2022September 1, 2022 T. J. Callahan Idris Elba, Three Thousand Years of Longing, tilda swinton

Based on a short story, Three Thousand Years of Longing is visually stunning, and the original score by Junkie XL smooths the rocky storyline. It grants us some warmth and deep thoughts on seduction with brains not brawn, but if I had one of the three wishes in play, I’d ask for my time back.

Reviews

BEAST – Review by Susan Granger

August 23, 2022August 20, 2022 Susan Granger Baltasar Kormákur, beast, Idris Elba, Iyana Halley, Leah Jeffries, sharlto copley

If you’ve ever been on an African safari or dreamed about going on one, the thriller Beast should hit home.
A recent widower, Dr. Nate Samuels (Idris Elba), is taking his two teenage daughters – sullen Meredith (Iyana Halley) and her younger sister Norah (Leah Jeffries) – on a healing journey to the South African savannah where their late mother, a photographer, spent her childhood. Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur works with cinematographer Philippe Rousselot and the digital team to create savage terror as the canny, vengeful beast repeatedly stalks them.

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